Public Deliberation: Harvesting the Public’s Thinking Renée A. Daugherty, Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Human Development & Family Science Extension Specialist -- Leadership & Educational Methods

Purpose of this Session Introduce the concept of public deliberation and how it can be used to address challenging community problems and public issues

“Without the people’s will, the people won’t.” Harry West

Role of Public in Policy... The people must be actively involved in making public judgments... To preserve American democracy, there is something for everyone to do – average citizens, institutions, people in positions of leadership, government officials, experts, the media – all of us... The people must be actively involved in making public judgments... To preserve American democracy, there is something for everyone to do – average citizens, institutions, people in positions of leadership, government officials, experts, the media – all of us Yankelovich, 1991

Public Decision-Making Process *Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of validity. Public Problem FactsMyths*Values Public Decision

Ways to Get Public Input on Public Problems/Issues Voting Voting Polling Polling Debate Debate Letters to the editor Letters to the editor Civil disobedience Civil disobedience Demonstrations / protests Demonstrations / protests Town Halls Town Halls Boycotts Boycotts... And more, including And more, including...

Public Deliberation Weighing alternative approaches to solve challenging public problems

The Roots of Public Deliberation Tribal decision making Tribal decision making New England town hall New England town hall

Public Deliberation Methods Deliberative forums Study circles Deliberative polling Citizen juries Conversation cafes World cafes Wisdom circles Appreciative inquiry Sustained dialogue Tetra... and many others Change Handbook (2007) 9

If the only tool you have in your toolkit is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail... If the only tool you have in your toolkit is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail... If the only tool you have in your civic engagement toolkit is __________, then everything looks like __________. 10

National Issues Forums (NIF) Deliberative forums / deliberative dialogue Deliberative forums / deliberative dialogue Non-partisan, non-advocacy Non-partisan, non-advocacy Nation-wide network Nation-wide network Issues identified each year Issues identified each year Issue books/videos Issue books/videos Local issue forums and study circles Local issue forums and study circles

Public Deliberation – Forums A public problem A public problem – –Complex, no simple answers – –There is time for deliberation; not an emergency Deliberative; different from debate or simple discussion Deliberative; different from debate or simple discussion Structured dialogue / issue guide with 3-4 approaches Structured dialogue / issue guide with 3-4 approaches Public understanding and knowledge of issues Public understanding and knowledge of issues Learning the concerns people have Learning the concerns people have A means to make tough choices about policy directions A means to make tough choices about policy directions Wrestling priorities out of complexities Wrestling priorities out of complexities

Public Deliberation, cont’d A way of reasoning and talking together A way of reasoning and talking together –Weighs the views of others –Considers consequences, costs and benefits –Challenges people to identify trade-offs –Respects the perspectives and values of others Requires that people: Requires that people: –Interact peacefully. –Share knowledge and perspectives on issues. on issues. –Organize to act publicly on these issues. A means to find common ground for action, secure commitment to work together A means to find common ground for action, secure commitment to work together

Issue Book Issue guides Non-partisan / non-advocacy Booklets, place-mats, on-line NIF creates 3-4 guides/year Life span of several years Format Introduction 3-4 approaches Research When you think about the issue, what concerns you? How are you and your family being affected? What actions would you want to see taken to address your concerns? What actions would you personally take? What consequences might come from the action you favor that could adversely affect something else you consider valuable? nifi.org

What Happens in a Deliberative Forum ? Participants & moderator in a circle (15-25 people) Diverse participants and perspectives Facilitated by a trained moderator and recorder Issue guide with 3-4 approaches 2 to 2½ hours –Opening –Deliberation of approaches –Reflections/closing »Common ground for action »Trade-offs »Understanding others’ perspectives

What Happens after a Deliberative Forum? Nationally through NIF Nationally through NIF –Moderators from multiple forums report outcomes (such as common ground, trade-offs, etc.) via web –NIF prepares national reports (3 or 4 per year) “A Public Voice” – one-hour PBS special “A Public Voice” – one-hour PBS special Presentation at National Press Club in Washington, DC Presentation at National Press Club in Washington, DC Presentation to Congress and/or staff Presentation to Congress and/or staff

What Happens after a Deliberative Forum, cont’d In Oklahoma or locally: In Oklahoma or locally: –Forum outcomes compiled into a final state or local report –Report is shared: A public community meeting A public community meeting News releases News releases Printed materials, etc. Printed materials, etc. Public action Public action Connecting citizens & officeholders Connecting citizens & officeholders

Studies of Public Deliberation Deliberative Forum Participants: Deliberative Forum Participants: –Come from every part of society –Reconsider their own opinions and judgments –Approach issues more realistically considering costs, consequences and trade-offs associated with policy options

Studies of Public Deliberation Deliberative Forum Participants: Deliberative Forum Participants: –Reconsider & develop greater understanding for the views of others –Define their self interest more broadly –Develop greater sense of confidence in what they can do politically –Become more interested in political and social issues

The Wetlands A Metaphor for Civic Engagement Natural coastal wetlands Natural coastal wetlands –Nuture life –Minimize the impact of storms Communities as “political wetlands” Communities as “political wetlands” –Minimize the impact of public problems through the authentic involvement of Oklahomans in civic life –Build human capacity »Informal gatherings as a basis for community conversations and deliberative forums »Ad hoc associations evolving into civic organizations 20

Developing a Habit of Public Deliberation

Oklahoma Partnership for Public Deliberation Trainings: Trainings: –Oklahoma Moderators and Recorders Academy –Framing Issues for Deliberation Workshop Statewide forums & reports Statewide forums & reports Issue framing Issue framing OKdeliberates.org OKdeliberates.org

Community Efforts Norman / Cleveland County NIF Network Norman / Cleveland County NIF Network Stillwater SPEAKS Stillwater SPEAKS (Stillwater People Expressing Attitudes and Knowledge) (Stillwater People Expressing Attitudes and Knowledge) Slogan: ”In Search of Common Ground” Slogan: ”In Search of Common Ground” Other possible sites: Other possible sites: –Your community?

Norman / Cleveland County NIF Network Founded 2002 Founded 2002 Diverse committee Diverse committee Deliberative habit Deliberative habit –2 forums twice/year –Presidential debate watch Framed a local issue in 2005 (health of elementary-aged children in Norman Public Schools) Framed a local issue in 2005 (health of elementary-aged children in Norman Public Schools)

Stillwater SPEAKS: Overview and History Founded in 2002 Founded in 2002 Diverse committee giving their time to... Diverse committee giving their time to foster citizen involvement in public decision making through deliberative forums

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Project: Moving Toward Better Health Framework developed Framework developed 4 forums held 4 forums held Report to community Report to community 4 action committees 4 action committees formed formed

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Project: State Ballot Questions 2 forums 2 forums 2 forums

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Project: Alcohol Issue Mayor’s Wellness Committee, including Red Ribbon Committee Mayor’s Wellness Committee, including Red Ribbon Committee Alcohol: Controlling the Toxic Spill Alcohol: Controlling the Toxic Spill 3 deliberative forums 3 deliberative forums Written report at Written report at Town Hall Meeting Town Hall Meeting

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Project: Forums at the Public Library 4-6 deliberative forums per year 4-6 deliberative forums per year Goal: to develop a deliberative habit in the Stillwater area Goal: to develop a deliberative habit in the Stillwater area Light evening meal, followed by forum Light evening meal, followed by forum Capacity to conduct 1-3 forums concurrently on those evenings Capacity to conduct 1-3 forums concurrently on those evenings

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Information Sharing Brochure Brochure Website Website

So What Has Happened? Studies conducted: Studies conducted: –Telephone interviews with approx. 100 persons –In-depth personal interviews with 12 persons

Activities Community task force 37% Contact office holders 64% Participant network 83% Study group 32% Additional forums on same topic 44% Featured in local media 67% Issue on public agenda 53% 53% 21 Outreach Scholarship Conference 2005

Use of Public Deliberation in Everyday Life Work79% Family Life 55% Civic Life 75% Religious community 35% Dealing with Public Issues 76% 22 Outreach Scholarship Conference 2005

So How About This Community/County/ Organization/Campus? What issues here might lend themselves to deliberative forums? What issues here might lend themselves to deliberative forums?

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead